Went down to the demonstration.

Some notes and photos from today’s demonstration on the UC Davis quad.
Students who were sprayed recounting their experiences. Several emphasize need for continued commitment to nonviolence.

Crowd applauds protester who mentions he is a US military veteran.

Protester disputes police claims they were encircled because “you were able to leave the circle to spray us.” Says she was even more shocked by the ability of the protesters nonviolently to repel the police.

It’s a big crowd – it’s a big quad, and it’s full as far as I can see.

All the protesters say the police used the language, “we’re going to shoot you.”

“The chancellor says it would not be appropriate for her to resign at this time. We know the chancellor is not a good judge of what is appropriate.”

… and, I gotta go. Sorry guys. Watch out for Rover from The Prisoner, there. I am a free man.

UPDATED to add, I’ve heard the chancellor’s speech – “I’m here to apologize. I really feel horrible about what happened on Friday…. I’m just telling you, I don’t want to be the chancellor of the university we had on Friday. Our university has to be better than it is. And it needs all of the community to come together to do that…. And I know you may not believe anything I am telling you today, but you don’t have to. It is my responsibility to earn your trust…. There is a plaque there that speaks about 17th of November 1973. And I was there. And I don’t forget about that….”

The faculty of the UC Davis English Department supports the Board of the Davis Faculty Association in calling for Chancellor Katehi’s immediate resignation and for “a policy that will end the practice of forcibly removing non-violent student, faculty, staff, and community protesters by police on the UC Davis campus.” Further, given the demonstrable threat posed by the University of California Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to the safety of students, faculty, staff, and community members on our campus and others in the UC system, we propose that such a policy include the disbanding of the UCPD and the institution of an ordinance against the presence of police forces on the UC Davis campus, unless their presence is specifically requested by a member of the campus community. This will initiate a genuinely collective effort to determine how best to ensure the health and safety of the campus community at UC Davis.

This is officially an award-winning blog

HNN, Best group blog: "Witty and insightful, the Edge of the American West puts the group in group blog, with frequent contributions from an irreverent band.... Always entertaining, often enlightening, the blog features snazzy visuals—graphs, photos, videos—and zippy writing...."

Putting teeny wire tents on the ground is reverent? I mean, I’m on board with the idea that memorializing everything everywhere all the time is silly, but this case seems poignant, scaled appropriately, and apt. The protestors aren’t perfect, of course, but when it comes to semiotics, they seem to be doing an admirable job.